Alki update

02.07.11: Worked all day so not home with her much. Nothing eventful happened. Cheerful and snuggly as usual that evening.

02.08.11: MISSED DOSE. (got the pill out then forgot to give it to her and fell asleep!!) Was home all day. Mom came over to help clean & unpack. Alki & Royal were crated half of the day then I let them out. I kept Alki confined to the hallway and bedroom because we had windows open and I have seen people & dogs walk past on occasion and I didnt want any explosions. I am still always watchful with her around people she hasnt seen in a while, since some people I thought she knew well, she has reacted fearfully toward upon seeing them again after being away for over a year, but she was totally calm & normal with my mom present. She has been seeing & hearing my mom through her crate though for the last 6 wks too. I eventually let Alki out into the main part of the house in the evening after the blinds were closed, and she still acted totally calm & normal around my mom. Probably helps that my mom just ignores her anyway. She has acted nervous with Beth's mom the last 2 times she has been at their house but her mom bends over her and is a vigorous petter :) and I think Alki just feels slightly cornered. Though the most recent time she was there she was MUCH better--I think because the 1st time her mom gave her lots of biscuits during the duration of the time she was there. :)

We did have one scary moment in the evening when Tony turned on the stereo and it was turned WAY up and the loud noise bewildered all of us (except Royal. of course lol). Tony & I freaked out, Brock spooky barked, and Alki tried to leap off the back of the couch and get away but I was there and held her. Her hackles went up and she started to bark, but I think this was in response to Brock's barking.

General notes:

Alki still has not had any good physical exercise in days. Hoping to fix the fence TODAY! She has done some "I'm bored!" barking in her crate the last 2 days, and she had one brief alarm bark session while in her crate in the bedroom with the window open. Oh and she is definitely nervous in the backyard right now. Its really minor but I know she is not totally comfortable yet. It seems like she is still wanting to really scope it all out, sniff a LOT, and her body seems tense (could also be cold!). The boys are still very curious back there too, and sniff a ton, but they are not nervous. She is slow and more cautious about it. I think she probably isnt convinced it is a safe place yet. I expected this.